Steller Motorsport have today confirmed their plan for a full 2018 campaign in the British GT Championship with a pair of Toyota GT86 GT4s.
2018 marks the first time that the Toyota GT86 will be fielded for a full season in the hugely competitive GT4 class and Steller Motorsport are entering with a highly talented young driver squad.
Car #68 sees 22-year-old Sennan Fielding joined by 16-year-old Tom Canning
Sennan Fielding, from Chesterfield, has been a race winner in almost every championship he has contested and has come mighty close to major Championship wins in single seaters more than once.
He’s raced and tested single seater, DTM, GT and sports prototype cars around the world and was a McLaren Autosport BRDC Award finalist in 2016.
“I’m super excited to get the season going in the Toyota GT86 with Steller Motorsport. I feel like I’ve got a great team around me and hope we can get the results we deserve. It’s great to be racing back on British soil too.
“After getting involved with coaching drivers in sportscar racing in recent months I’m sure I can add something to the whole effort here too, it’s always good to work with emerging talents.”
Tom Canning, from Bath, arrives in GT4 via the 2017 Ginetta Junior Championship and a multiple Championship winning record in karting. Tom, who is part of the Young Racing Driver Academy, is also set to be the youngest driver in British GT Championship history.
“The entry for the Championship looks fantastic and I’m sure that we can get up to pace very quickly. Whilst the Toyota is a big step up from last seasons Ginetta there are plenty of common factors that should make it a relatively easy transition.
“I’m delighted to be a part of this programme, and to be sharing the car with Sennan. Everyone involved here is hungry to progress and working with an experienced team, and an experienced team-mate will only help to carry me forward. I can’t wait!”
Car #86 sees a pair of 17-year-old drivers combine, Dean Macdonald joined by Alex Quinn
Dean Macdonald from Cowdenbeath follows up a 2017 season that saw him help his previous team to second in the British GT Championship GT4 Teams’ standings and then come close to winning the much prized Porsche Carrera Cup GB Junior Scholarship. Dean is another multiple championship winner in karting.
“It’s great to be back in the British GT Championship for a second full season, and to be sharing the Toyota with an old karting sparring partner!” says Macdonald.
“I saw last season how tough a challenge the Championship, and GT4, really is and, by the look of things, this year is only going to be better and tougher.
“A year of GT4 experience though will be invaluable to myself, to the team, and, I hope, to Alex too. We’re both raring to go.”
Alex Quinn from Cornwall joins the GT grid after multiple visits to the podium in the 2017 British F4 Championship as a title challenger with the TRS Arden team. Alex joined the F4 grid in 2016 and finished his first year in single seater racing as Rookie Champion, this followed an impressive international karting career, which led to him joining the Young Racing Driver Academy and also securing backing from the Racing Steps Foundation. This will be Alex’s first season in GT racing.
“I’ve been in talks with Steller Motorsport for quite some time and very much enjoyed the test we had with the Toyota. After my experience so far in single seaters it’s very different but GT racing offers a real opportunity for a totally new career track and this programme is an exciting first step on that path.
“I’m particularly pleased to be sharing the #86 Toyota with an old karting rival Dean Macdonald.”
The Team
Steller Motosport’s Toyota GT86 GT4s for the programme are built by sister company Steller Engineering in Buckinghamshire.
Headed by Gary Blackham, who has multiple Championship winning success in BTCC and has huge experience with touring cars, sportscars and GTs on his racing cv. Steller are aiming to show the abilities of the now re-engineered Toyota in top level competition and hope to see interest from other teams in the rapid little GT86.
”With the Toyotas now thoroughly re-engineered and an array of young talent we are eager to get the season started,” adds Blackham.
“I’m delighted to bring a two car effort for the full season, that will help everyone involved to carry the programme forward and to be real contenders at the sharp end of a fantastic GT4 field.”
The Car
The Toyota GT86 GT4, based on one of the most popular GT cars on the road, was initially developed by GPRM for GT4 competition. The project passed to Steller Engineering after the 2017 season and rapid progress has been made in ensuring that the now in-house engine programme is providing the power and reliability required to go head-to-head with an increasingly impressive GT4 field.
The GT86 GT4 is powered by a jewel-like 2.0-litre direct injection turbocharged four-cylinder capable (subject to Balance of Performance adjustments) of producing c.400 bhp.
